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More Christmas Time Thankful Things

Filed Under: FTSF Tagged With: , , ,

Happy Saturday all and here we are in the middle of December.  Christmas is only in a little over 2 weeks from now!

Time is flying once again.  It is the third week of December and 11 days (not even two weeks) until it is Christmas!

But since it is indeed Saturday, I am sharing Ten Twelve Thankful Things of the Week with a sneak peak to a new cookie recipe that I created that I will hopefully share on here soon!

1.  The weekend started with Kevin using a vacation day that he did still have left to start a long weekend with us.

2.  Getting to finally see Frozen with Kevin and the girls in the afternoon on a Friday (because he was indeed off!).  Loved playing hooky, because the movie was so worth it and the company was the absolute best!  Seriously, the special effects and music were simply amazing and just perfect and the snowman, Olaf was simply hilarious and adorable, too.  Won’t ruin it for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but trust me this one is a must see for all.

Frozen Finally!
Frozen Finally!
Emma Eating Nachos Before the Show
Emma Eating Nachos Before the Show
Kevin and Lily Also Eating Nachos!
Kevin and Lily Also Eating Nachos!

3.  After the movie, we saw Santa, which was right downstairs in the mall.  The girls got to tell the big man what they wanted.  Emma told him she wanted him to being her a Flutterby Fairy and Lily said Minnie Mouse.  Then, we got a picture taken to keep for a look down memory lane one day one the future.

4.  Getting my Christmas cards addressed (thanks to Kevin printing the envelopes while grumbling about it).  My cards are indeed addressed, stamped and mailed, too.  So success!

Our Christmas Card 2013-Photos from Target, Card from Tiny Prints!

5.  Dinner out just Kevin and I.  Kevin’s mom watched the girls and we finally got a few hours to go out by ourselves.  Dinner was hot and delicious.  Had Norfolk grilled cheese, which has bacon, tomato and goat cheese grilled on rustic whole wheat bread.  Also tried two different cocktails, as well!  And dessert was had by all in the form of warm, apple crisp, oh my!

Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich-Dinner
Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich-Dinner
Hemingway Cocktail
Hemingway Cocktail
Warm Apple Crisp for Dessert
Warm Apple Crisp for Dessert

6.  No sleeping in for neon Sunday morning, because I just couldn’t, but caught up on blogging for a good portion of the morning quietly by the light of Christmas tree, while all slept peacefully.

7.  Lazy Sunday morning breakfast, which I once again made my famous chocolate pancakes for my gang.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Chocolate Chip Pancakes

8.  Baking my first cookie of the Christmas season with Brown Butter Pecan Coconut Cookies (a happy accident).  Recipe to follow!

Brown Butter Pecan Coconut Cookies

9.  Getting approved for the Pandora Towson Affiliate Program, because many who started following me in the beginning know how much I love these charms.  I already own and am in love with the Black Friday Bead from the new Pandora Winter 2013 Collection. Stay tuned for my wish list from this beautiful collection coming soon!

Pandora Towson

10A. As always so thankful for the wonderful blogging friends I have and for this lady in particular, who I have known since my original Hubpages days, as well as, when we both started to blog.  A huge shoutout and thank you to Cyndi from Pictimilitude for nominating me and sharing the Sisterhood of Blogging Award with me.  Seriously, can’t say enough how much of a smile you put on my face last weekend with this, as well as how truly grateful I am for your continued support and friendship!

10B.  Also, so thankful for this equally wonderful lady, Kelly from The Real Housewife, who has also been a very close friend and confident, too since my Hubpages and early blogging days, who later in the week also awarded me the Sisterhood of Blogging Award, as well

Seriously felt the love all around from both of these lovely women and can’t thank you both enough for being there for me through think and thin!

11.  Another huge thank you to Lizzi from Considerings who not only hosts this linkup weekly, but created a new award and shared it with other bloggers, including myself.  The award is known as “The Hardwired Heart Award”.  The rules for this one are simple: 

  • Nominate as many people as you like – but you have to say WHY they mean so much to you. Declare it proudly and shout it from the rooftops. (Look below).
  • If you receive one, try to pass it on to at least one other person (I don’t normally pass awards anymore, but just had to with this one).  The person, I must pass this onto is: Tamara from Tamara Like Camera, who is not only a friend, but a true inspiration with her amazing writing and beautiful photography.  Seriously she has gotten into my heart in more ways then way.  Thank you so much my friend!! 
Hardwired Heart Award

12.  Having Kevin home again this past Friday for another long weekend, as he had a few more vacation days to play with at the end of the year.

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Now if you missed a moment of this week’s blog articles, here is a recap~

Time to Confess!!

On Sunday, I cleverly shared how you can take inspiring holiday photos, here.  

On Monday, I took a step back in time and shared about my 9/11 experience and how I had made the difficult choice to go back to school to become a teacher, here.  I also proudly shared Tiny Prints first deal of the week .  To see what it was, click here.

On Tuesday, overzealously shared the week’s PINcentive Blog Hop, which has the best of the best as far as posts this side of Pinterest.  For more, click here.  I also happily announced who my Secret Santa was for this year and all she got me here.  Gave some gift options for mothers and daughter with the wonderful company Joules help, here.  Was able to offer the next week daily discount from Tiny Prints (that I also took advantage of) here.

On Wednesday, I co-hosted the Twitter Hop and to link up, click here.  Also, loved being able to bring you all all some wonderful gifting ideas like personalized puzzles from Reagan’s Toy Chest, for more on this click here.  Tis the Season and brought you the second of three holiday deals here today from Blurb Books, who had more to offer for your kiddies, here.  The third offer from Tiny Prints for the week was unveiled, here.

On Thursday, I was able to get back to reading with these two books in this tear jerker book series for click here for more.  Also, got to offer 35% off all gifts at Tiny Prints this one night only, click here.

On Friday, back with another FTSF with the sentence to finish being, “This holiday season I will… ” OR “My favorite Christmas tradition is…”, to link up please click here!  Also, tonight only was 25% off and free shipping no minimum on holiday cards at Tiny Prints, here.

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Disclosure Final

 

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Sandy Ramsey says

    What an amazing week you have had! And thank you (again) for sharing pics of your beautiful family. I say it over and over, every single time, I know but your family is precious! That Christmas card rocks, by the way! I can't wait for the cookie recipe. I've been making a list of goodies I want to make with the kids next week while they are out of school and this one looks like it should be on that list. Congrats on Pandora! I love Pandora…so many possibilities and it's just beautiful jewelry. I also congratulate you on your Sisterhood award…well deserved, without a doubt!

    My recent post The End But Not: Final Ten Things of Thankful 2013

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks so much Sandy for saying that about my family. Seriously, as much as my days are quite crazy from them all, I love them truly and they are just everything to me. I promise to post that recipe in the next day or two (probably Monday and Tuesday). Just trying to schedule out the week now! And I am totally doing a Pandora share this week, because it has been way too long for me and I just love this jewelry to be quite honest. And I totally felt loved this week with all the awards, just couldn't quite keep up!! Heading over to you now, as well!! 🙂

  5. Billybuc says

    Well, I am thankful for the mocha I'm drinking right now, and for the movie we are going to,and for the Christmas tree we will cut down this afternoon….and for all the love I am surrounded by each and every day.

    Have a wonderful day my friend.

  6. Sarah says

    SO much to comment on! I'll stick to two: that dinner out looks so fabulous! I love a date with The Dude, and it happens far too infrequently.
    Mmmm…holiday baking. In addition to what I posted for your link-up, I made brownie cupcakes and will make peppermint marshmallows for neighbor and teacher gifts.
    Oh, and an extra: your holiday cards are beautiful!
    My recent post TToT5: The Flying Pig

    • Janine Huldie says

      Date night was awesome and you are so right happens very infrequently here, too, but when it does really is the best! Did more holiday baking yesterday and today with snowman cookies, more of the Brown Butter Pecan Coconut cookies and also Gingerbread cookies, too. And thank you for your kind words on our card, too!! 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      I know and he was there last year, too. Seriously looks like the real deal!! And Frozen seriously was the best and to quote Emma, "Can we get the DVD yet?" Seriously I am with her and so can't wait to own the DVD and see it again here. And totally my pleasure. You know how much I love and adore you, so I knew I had to pass this onto you my friend. IT has your name written all over it!!! 🙂

  10. Sara says

    The pictures of Emma and Lily eating nachos are adorable. I loved Frozen and can't wait until its on video. Looking forward to you sharing your cookie recipe. Tommy is nuts for anything with coconut in it.
    My recent post Recipe Swap- Gingerbread Cookie

    • Janine Huldie says

      Sara, I will totally be sharing this recipe this week for sure. I am thinking either Monday or Tuesday and this one is truly a coconut dream come true because I too love coconut. I seriously discovered this one by accident though, but will now be making it for years to come 🙂

  11. zoe says

    Those little girls must be soooooooooo fired up for Christmas! I am not a movie fan but Frozen looks pretty cute! So maybe! But man that goat cheese concoction… wow looks fab!

  13. stephanie2006 says

    Love the picture of Kevin and Lily, so sweet! Caught a glimps of Richard cuddling in bed with Violet this week while I was getting ready for work. There's nothing better than daddies and their daughters 🙂 Congrats on the affiliation with Pandora, that's awesome!! Will you share your recipe for the recipe swap over at my blog on Tuesday??
    My recent post Week In Review – Ten Things Of Thankful 28

  14. christine says

    Beautiful photos for the Christmas card!
    I have heard nothing but rave reviews for "Frozen". We'll be seeing it as soon as it hits the dollar theater. (Ain't no way we take 6 kids to a movie except on a rare vacation treat.)
    There was a whole lot of good-lookin' food in this post, and it's making me quite hungry.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks so much Christine and I will tell you a secret, I didn't pay for the girls. I told the cashier they were 2 1/2 year old twins. Emma is small for her age and Lily only just turned 3, so I was seriously not paying $9.25 for each kid, because they were over 3. Seriously Lily sat on Kevin's lap the whole time and Emma ended up in mine by the middle of the movie. So, they weren't even taking up a seat each!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Krisit, I was glad to have my kids as an excuse to see Frozen, because seriously I wanted to see it myself. And it truly was just a wonderful movie and wish I could see it again now. Will have to wait for the DVD to be released and just can't wait!! 🙂

  18. gigigirl says

    You had a really full week….and thanks for sharing all those great photos of the girls and the yummy food! Hope you have a good Sunday in spite of more nasty weather on the way. Hope you get your Pandora wish. Love …..xxxxoooo

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Aunt Gloria and just trying to stay warm and indoors as much as I can right now. Baked off and on all day yesterday with the girls. I now have to have them decorate the gingerbread cookies that Emma had to make for Santa!! And hoping you are enjoying your weekend now, too!! 🙂 Love you xoxo!!!

  19. Michelle Liew says

    The time has flown so fast, and we're already coming to Christmas! We've been blogging for over two years! Amazing. Glad to know you, J9.
    My recent post Gratitude for little changes

  20. joanneviola says

    Enjoyed this post. Your Christmas cards came out BEAUTIFUL! But then your girls are just precious. I am glad that I visited from Make My Saturday Sweet. A day late but glad that I did 🙂 Have a very Merry Christmas!

  23. lizzy allan says

    Janine, your girls are seriously so adorable and photogenic! I love the cover you created for your Christmas cards. You're so creative with photos and technology. Sometimes I don't know where you get all your energy from!! And you just seem to take everything in your stride. Love all your photos and descriptions of food too. Goats cheese is one of my favourite things ever and lazy Sunday breakfasts are just the best, aren't they? 🙂
    My recent post Sunshine and Serendipity

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thank you south Lizzy for all your kind words here. I seriously just enjoy playing around with photos and graphics. It is funny, Kevin went to school for this and I know he is still so better then me with this, but still so enjoy it. And lazy Sunday morning breakfast, too 🙂

  24. bethteliho says

    We're still dying to see Frozen! I've only heard great things about it. Hopefully we'll see it over the holiday break. Isn't it awesome when the hubs takes a vacation day? Those always end up being the BEST days! And I'm officially both jealous and panicked that you have your Christmas cards mailed out…owp! Just realized I was supposed to finish that over the weekend and didn't! I'll need to get on that today. Thanks for reminding me!

    Love all your photos, and as always your busy schedule makes me feel like all I do is sit around all day. You are awesomesauce, girl! xo
    My recent post A Striptease For You

    • Janine Huldie says

      Truly is awesome when the Hubs does take a vacation day and will say the past two Fridays were great and got so much done with him being home for the holidays. And as for all I do get done, seriously still not sure, but just do what I can at this point and then just keep going. Hoping you had a great weekend and here is to even better week now, too!! 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Justin, I know what you mean and trust me, I had forgotten myself. We will probably not get out alone again until at least Valentine's Day now! And totally see Frozen when you can, it really was an awesome movie. 🙂

  27. Sapphire says

    I to have heard nice things about Frozen.. I will especially try to see it with my kids by next week. their cousins are coming from Florida this weekend and If i know them well I am sure they will want to watch it over and over again .. here goes my pocket.. 🙂

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